Gene Watson's Peers: Ty Herndon
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry
believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much
so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and
rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2007 were most gracious with their
time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that
you have an opportunity to read a quote from
Ty Herndon, which he
submitted to this site on Friday 26 January 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Ty Herndon who has made a
special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone
Star Hero'.
Ty Herndon
This quote was submitted on Friday 26 January 2007
'A monumental moment in my life was when I won a talent
show at the age of fourteen singing the Gene Watson classic 'Fourteen carat
mind'.
Gene Watson is one of the reasons that I love & have pursued a career in
country music'.
Thank you, Ty Herndon, for
your support of Gene Watson.
About Ty Herndon...
Ty Herndon, like many new
country singers of the mid-1990s, has fused neo-traditionalist country with
a slick, rock-oriented sense of style & production.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi & raised in Butler, Alabama Ty Herndon became
involved in music as he was growing up. He sang gospel music & learned how
to play piano. After he graduated from high school, he moved to Nashville.
Initially, he had a difficult time gaining a foothold in the music industry,
spending ten years without making any real headway.
Ty left the Music City & headed to Texas, where he began slogging it out in
local honky tonks, developing a dedicated following of fans. In 1993, he won
the Texas Entertainer of the Year & later that year signed to the Epic
Records label.
Ty Herndon's first single, ‘What mattered most’, hit No.1 in the spring of
1995. The track won Song of the Year at the annual 'Music Row' magazine
awards & Ty was named 'Best New Artist' at the 1995 Country Radio Music
Awards.
The 'What Mattered Most' album was released on Epic Records in April of 1995
& became a Top 10 country hit. The second single, ‘I want my goodbye back’,
became a No.7 hit.
Seemingly, the world was in his hands, but Ty's first year of stardom was a
difficult one, as he was arrested for drug possession on 13 June 1995, in
Fort Worth, Texas. Nevertheless, the arrest didn't halt his career; his
third single, ‘Heart half empty’, was a hit.
Ty Herndon's second album for Epic Records, ‘Living in a Moment’, debuted at No.6 upon its
release in the summer of 1996. The album ‘Big Hopes’ (Epic Records) was released in 1998 &
in 1999 Herndon resurfaced with ‘Steam’ (Epic Records).
Ty Herndon was certainly one of (American) country music’s most consistent
radio favourites of the 1990s, receiving an American Music Award nomination
in 1997 & a Contemporary Achievement honour from the Alabama Music Hall of
Fame. Ty's 'What Mattered Most' & 'Living in a Moment' albums achieved gold
status sales-wise.
During the late 1990s, Ty sold more than four million discs & his blazing
live-performance style made him one of country music’s finest concert
attractions.
After 2002, he vanished from radio charts & concert stages. Family, friends
& Nashville songwriters rallied around him as he turned his life around,
regained his health, lost his excess weight & began to sing again. Ty
returned to the stage with a Music City nightclub showcase in the summer of
2004.
Ty Herndon's impressive album discography also includes 'Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits' (Epic
Nashville, 2002), 'Not So Silent Night'
(Riviera Entertainment, 2003) & 'Right About Now' (Titan
Pyramid, 2007).
Ty Herndon was the first country music artist signed by Titan Pyramid
Records, a roster that boasts acts such as The Band, Eric Carmen, Doobie
Bros., Dave Edmunds, Stray Cats, Robert Palmer, Joe Walsh, Nik
Kershaw, Stephen Stills & Earth, Wind & Fire.
Visit Ty Herndon's Official
MySpace Site
